Lubricant conditioner



Nov. 6, 1%. F'. B. HARVUOT LUBRICANT CONDITIONER Filed Nov; 7, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR.

Frank BHa'rvuoZ EMQ ATTORNEY.

Nova 6, 1945. v .F. B. HARVUOT LUBRI CANT CONDIT IONER Filed Nov. 7, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .R am WM m w W H l B w m w n F Y ma a Nov. 6, 1945. F. B. HARVUOT LUBRICANT CONDITIONER Filed Nov. '7, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 H n m INVENT OR.

Nov. 6, 1945. F. BJHARVUOT 2,338,636

LUBRICANT CONDITIONER Filed No). 7, 1940 v e Sheets-Sheet 4 Fl 4 I FmfzK BHM'WLM I INVENTOR BY$WL ATTORNEY.

Nov. 6, 194. F. B. HARYUOT fififi LUBRICANT CONDITIONER FmnK Hwvvwoi IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 6, 1945. vuo-r Y 2,388,536

' LUBRICANT CONDITIONER I Filed Nov. 7, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 6, 1945 2,388,636 LUBRICANT CONDITIONER Frank B. Harvuot, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to S. F. Bowser & Company, Incorporated, Fort Wayne, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Application Novembr '7, 1940, Serial No. 364,686

- Claims.

This invention relates to a device for maintaining lubricating oil which flows in a circulatory system clean and in good lubricating condition. More specifically, it relates to a device which has provisions for continuously washing a portion of the circulating oil with water to reduce the acid content of the oil, for dehydrating the washed oil and for filtering all of the oil passing through the device.

It is an object of the'inven'tion to provide a lubricant conditioner which will remove acid from lubricant flowing in a circulatory system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a conditioner which will remove water from the circulating lubricant.

Still another object-of the invention is to provide anew and novel'device for dehydrating oils and similarliq'ulds.

It is still another object of the invention to produce a new and novel system for treating a portion of the oil flowing in a circulatory system to remove impurities, without impeding the operation of the system.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an oil washing device for securing intimate contact between the oil and the washing fluid.

Still another object 'of the invention is the provision of means for securing intimate contact between the oil and the washing fluid and for thereafter removing any of the washing fluid which may become entrained in the oil.

Yet another object of the invention is to'provide dehydrating units which are readily replaceable in the system.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oil washing device wherein the oil is compelled to traverse a path of predetermined distance through the wash fluid.

It is another object of the invention to provide means for heating the lubricant to render the washing and precipitating'operations more efficient.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means for precipitating waterfrom the lubricant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cartridge type of dehydrator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel spreader device which separates the hi; bricantinto small particles and dispenses them into the Wash fluid.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of means for discharging the filtered lubricant into the storage compartment without agitation so as to prevent air from being included with it.

Another object of the invention is to provide means-for ventilating the casing so as to prevent corrosion thereof by condensate which formson the interior parts exposed to air and gases.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a studyof the following specification and the drawings which are attached thereto and made a part thereof and in which: i

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the entire structure showing the various fittings and having porv broken away to show the internal construction and with the filter elements removed.

Figure 3 i an elevation of the end opposite to that of Figure 1 with part of the outer wall broken away to show the filter and clean oil" compartments.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device in which the lower end'is the end shown in Figure 3, and wherein portions of the covers are broken away to show the internal construction.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the spreader-device which forms the oil into small droplets.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the device of Figure 5.

-Figure '7 is a vertical section showing, in .detaiLthe level regulator for the washing fluid.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the oil inlet me. p Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-4! of Figure 8. 1

Figure 10 is a view, partially broken away, showing the orifice for controlling the admission of oil to the washing compartment.

Figure 11 is an elevation with parts broken away of a dehydrator element.

Figure 12- is a sectional view, partially broken away, of the dehydrator element structure at the point of inlet thereto.

Figure 13 is a sectional view showing the washing compartment with the spreader in place.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line I 4-.l 4 of Figure 4 showing the filter outlet structure.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the numeral 1 indicates generally an open topped tank of recan ular shape which is provided with legs 3 at its four lower corners.

Fixed in the tank at about the middle is an upright, transverse wall which sealingly engages the bottom and side walls of the tank.

That portion of the tank disposed between wall 5 and the end wall II is further divided by two vertical partitions 1 and 9 which sealingly engage the said walls.

Partition 9 extends from the bottom l5, which it sealingly engages, to a point preferably about three inches from the top edge of the tank where it is provided with a downwardly depending lip |3 which, with the partition, forms a weir l4.

As shown in Figure 1, a horizontal deck I1 is sealingly but removably attached to the partition 9, walls 5 and H and the side wall l6 to form with bottom I 5 a compartment A which is termed the washing compartment. The compartment B above the deck I1 is termed the dehydration compartment because it contains a plurality of dehydrator units |9 which are connected to outlet pipes 2| fixed in deck l1 and forming channels of communication between the compartments A and B.

The partition 1 extends from the top edge of the tank down to a level some eight or ten inches from the bottom l5, this distance being variable because of the slope of the bottom, and forms with partition 9 a passage C which connects compartment B with the precipitation compartment D.

In this compartment a series of supports 23 are fixed to the walls and partitions and serve to support flat screens 25. The latter are held in position by their weight and are provided with handles 26 so that they may be lifted out of the compartment for cleaning, etc.

The wall 5 is of less height between the left side wall 21 and partition 1 than it is between this partition and the side wall l6, and reaches to a level about nine inches below the edges of the tank where it is provided with a depending lip 29 to form a weir 30 (see Figure 2).

The remainder of the bottom of the tank will be designated by numeral 3| for the sake of clarity, and it will be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that this portion 3| of the bottom slopes downwardly and outwardly from about the longitudinal center of the tank.

A central vertical partition 32 sealingly engages the wall 5 and the end wall 33 of the tank as will be seen in Figure 4, and extends parallel with partitions 1 and 9 but on the opposite side of wall 5 from said partitions. It extends from the bottom to a, leveleven with the tops of the tank sides.

A T-shaped wall 35 extends parallel with partition 32, and the extremities of the horizontal portion of 35, numbered 45, sealingly engage the wall 5 and end wall 33 respectively, and its depending or vertical portion terminates at a level some four and one-half inches above the bottom 3|.

A transverse partition 31 extends parallel to wall 5 and sealingly engages the side 21 of the tank and the partition 32 just described. It extends upwardly to a level flush with the sides of the tank and downwardly to a level some three or four inches from the bottom 3|. This distance will vary because of the slope of the bottom.

In Figures 2 and 3 will be seen angle plates 39 and 4| which are disposed between, and which sealingly engage the partitions 32, 35 and 45. The depending portions of the angle plates form with the partitions a downwardly extending conduit 43 while the horizontal portions of the angle plates form a horizontal trough 45 which is closed at its ends by walls 5 and 33 but which comconduit 43.

The partition 32 is provided with a plurality of fittings 41 which are adapted to receive the discharge pipes 49 of filters 5| as will be described.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figures 2 and 4 that the walls 5 and 21 and partitions 32 and 31 form a passageway E which connects the precipitation chamber D with the filtration chamber F by way of the weir 30 described above.

The filtration chamber F communicates with the treated oil compartment G by way of the fittings 41, trough 45 and the conduit 43. This compartment is defined by the walls 5, I6, 33 and partition 32.

Referring now to Figure 1, 4, 5, 6 and 13, the washing compartment A is connected with an inlet pipe 53 by way of a T 55, a pipe 51, a valve 59, a regulating nipple 6|, the L 63 and pipe 65.

The regulating nipple which is clearly shown in Figure 10 comprises an ordinary pipe nipple having a disc 61 sealingly fitted therein as by welding. The disc is provided with a hole 69 which, is of a diameter suflicient to permit passage of about one-fourth of the entire flow coming to the unit through the washing compartment diameter.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 it will be seen that the pipe 65 is L-shaped and is welded or otherwise fixed in the tank end ll. Welded or otherwise fixed to the upturned end of pipe 65 and flush with the end thereof is a horizontal plate or collar 11.

A spreader 13 which comprises a circular plate having a downwardly directed flange 15, is mounted by means of screws 11 on the collar 1|. The screws pass freely through holes in the spreader and enter tapped holes in the collar. Nuts 19 are fixed to the screws to prevent their complete withdrawal from the collar.

Springs 8| are disposed, one around each screw and between the collar and the spreader plate, so as to hold the latter against the heads of the screws.

Diffuser orifices 89 are formed in the circular plate portion of the spreader and the number and size of the holes, as well as the diameter of the head, vary with the capacity of the machine as shown by the following table which contains the values arrived at by actual test and experiment.

Machine Spreader Diameter Number Diameter capacity capacity spreader holes oles G. P. H G. P. H. Inches Inch 90 22. 5 12 24 M0 270 67. 5 12 72 /G 540 135.0 12 64 992 1080 270. 0 20 128 tz It will be recalled that the orifice 69 in the nipple 6| divides the flow so that only about onequarter of it will pass through the spreader head. The diffusion orifices are of sizes small enough so that the oil will form in droplets at the orifice outlets and will detach themselves therefrom and fioat upwardly through the wash fluid as separate globules as distinguished from a stream.

The flange 15 on the spreader head is about one inch deep and should lubricant be supplied to the head faster than it can pass through the orifices, it will simply fill the head and flow out from under the rim thereof. No harm results from this and the only result is that such overflow of lubricant is .not completely washed 'ior'the reason that it is not broken up to secureianzin-timate contact with the wash fluid.

The washing compartment is provided with a steam coil 91 which serves to heat the waterin this compartment. An automatic valve 93icontrolled by aithermostat '94 inserted in the water bath controlsthe admission of steam to 'thecoil and serves to maintainthe temperature of :the water at about 140 degrees Fahrenheit, atwhich temperature" the surface tension of the oil is reduced to a point where it can be efiiciently washed with water. Numerals 92 indicate the connections between the valve 93 and the steam coil.

A gauge glass 95 is provided in-this compartment and is provided with an indicator 9'! which bears a mark 98 at the level at which water should be carried in the compartment. This level is preferably about six inches above the outlet from the spreader 13 described above.

A drain outlet I is provided at the lower edge of bottom I for drawing off the wash water when it is desired to change it, and a water inlet pipe 99 provided with a shut-off valve and a flow indicator is connected to the compartment for supplying fresh water to the compartment.

As described above, a plurality of pipe nipples 2I are set in the deck 'I'I. 'Each nipple has fixed to it a perforated tube I'IH which is sealed atits upper end by a plug I03.

The dehydrator unit I9 which is preferably cylindrically shaped is fixed to the tube IflI and comprises a circular bottom head I01, a rigid cylinder I 09 of rather coarse, stiff screen and a cap III having a depending flange H3.

The top edge of the screen cylinder 109 ispreferably provided with a ferrule I.I5 which facilitates the insertion of a cartridge and which maintains the shape of the screen at the upper, open end. The cap I I I is held in place over the end of the screen by means of screws I I6 which enter threaded openings in the ferrule.

The dehydrator cartridge comprises a screen wire inner tube I I! which isprovided with a plug I I 9 at its upper end.

Firmly tied or otherwise fixed to the lower end of the tube is a cloth bag I2I which is packed with a water absorbent material, preferably defiberized cellulose. This is preferably mixed with a fmrous material such as long fibre cotton which serves to hold the cellulose together as an integral mass. It is also desirable to mix with the above then be inserted in the container I05 where it'iis held by the lid.

The cartridge isforced against the bottom of .the cylinder with considerable force so that there will be little likelihood of try-passing of the liquid around the-dehydrator cartridge.

The flow through the cartridge is, of course, through nipple 2|, tubes HII, II-l, through the bag filling I06,-bag I2I and screen cylinder I09 into the compartment 3. The weir I4 is higher than the top of the dehydrator so that the latter is at all times submerged in oil.

Water is carried at a level, in compartmentD, about two inches below the lower end of partition I. The water level will be indicated by a gauge glass I23.

A steam coil I25 is mounted in this compartment below the usual water level and is adapted to heat the water. This coil is connected to the valve 93 by pipe I2! and is controlled thereby 'to hold the temperature in the precipitationcompartment to approximately 1-40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is suitable for effecting the precipitation of moisture from the oil.

A cleaning plug I3 I is also provided at the bottom of this compartment.

The precipitation compartment D is provided with an automatic water discharge to prevent the level of water from rising in the compartment beyond a predetermined level (Figures 1 and 7). This device comprises a pipe I33 which communicates with the compartment near its bottom and hence below the water level; hence a column of water will rise in this pipe and in the adjustable tube I35 (Figure 7) which is fitted into the pipe, a distance corresponding to the pressure exerted by the combined head of oil and water in the compartment.

By adjusting tube I35 in the stuffing box E31,

"1 the amount of water in the compartment can be constituents, certain wiry materials which render Per cent Defiberized cellulose Mexican sisal u--- 25 Long fibre cotton; 1 Carded wool 5 Curly horsehair; '5

These constituents, designated as a mass by numeral 196, are thoroughly mixed in any suitable manner and are then packed into the cloth bag I2I, mentioned above, which is then tied at the top to form a cartridge. The cartridge may varied because as the tube I35 is lowered it .will require less pressure to force water to spill over into the cup I39 so that it will pass to the drain I4I. Water will accordingly be displaced by oil until the columns are again balanced. Addition of water to the body in the compartment will cause water to be passed to the waste water discharge. Obviously, since water is heavier than oil the top of tube I35 will have to be lower than'weir 30.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9, it will be seen that a pipe I43 is connected with T 55 and serves to divert the greater portion of the flow, about seventy-five percent, into the channel C. Pipe I43 is connected with a pipe I45 which is provided with a plug I41 at its end and with .a

downwardly opening slot I49 which extendssubstantially the entire length of the pipe (see Figures 2 and 8). Byreason of this construction the oil is diverted downwardly in channel C toward compartment D so that it will not unduly disturb the liquid which is flowing over the weir I4.

In the filtration compartment F, a I5I is fixed .to the walls 33 and 31. The fittings 41 heretofore mentioned each comprise a valve seat membe I53 which passes through a hole I55 in the partition 32 and enters a valve body 15.? which is disposed in the trough 45 (see Figures 3, 4 and 14) A gasket I59 is provided under the head of the valve seat to seal the joint. A poppet type valve I6] is mounted .in the body and is spring urged toward the seat member.

Each filter element 51 is provided with fitting 49 which comprises a conical sealing surface I63 support which is adapted to engage the seat I53 at the end opposite to that engaged by valve I6I.' A projection I65 formed on the fitting 49 is adapted to displace the valve II from seat I53 when said projection is inserted in the passage I6I of the seat member. The projection is cutaway so that liquid may flow out into trough 45. When the filter element 5I is removed the valve I6I automatically closes the passage I6I so that there will be no mixing of filtered and unfiltered oil. The filter element 5I is also provided with a bracket I69 which is adapted to rest upon the support I5I. The filter element is thus supported by the nozzle or projection I65 at one side and by the bracket I69 at its other side and is in communication with the trough 45.

The filter element shown comprises a hollow screen wire frame over which is stretched a removable bag made of moleskin or other filtering cloth.

A sight gauge III is connected in the filter compartment and a clean-out plug I13 is provided near the bottom.

A sight glass I75 and a draw-oil cock I'I'I are provided in the clean oil compartment. The clean oil outlet I I9 is disposed at the bottom of this compartment.

Suitable thermometers may be installed in the various compartments if desired.

The tank is provided with a top I80 having a number of removable covers IBI, I83, I85 and I89 which cover the compartments B and C, D, F and G respectively. Suitable knobs I9I are provided so that the covers may be easily removed.

If desired, an exhaust fan I95 may be provided on the top I89, as shown in Figure 4, to prevent the collection of vapors on the parts exposed to air and which might be corroded. Air inlet openings I9'I, which preferably have screens set in them, permit the entry of air from outside of the device.

Operation In circulating lubricating systems, the gallons circulated in a minute are known so that when the conditioner is installed the orifice 69 in the control nipple is made of a diameter to permit the passage of about twenty-five percent of the total flow. The remainder of the flow passes through pipes I43 and I45 into channel C.

The oil passing through the control nipple enters pipe 65 and the spreader I3. The latter is submerged in a body of water and, consequently, there will be a difierential pressure exerted on the orifices in the spreader which will force the oil through them in the form of small droplets which rise through and come into intimate contact with the Wash water, whereby Water soluble acids are taken out of the oil.

Should the flow of oil through the control nipple exceed the flow through the spreader orifices, the excess will simply build up within the spreader and eventually escape from under the rim thereof.

In order that the pressure may be equalized over all of the spreader orifices, the adjusting screws 11 will be actuated to level the spreader once the tank has been adjusted to level the weirs I 4 and 30.

The droplets rise through the wash fluid and eventually merge in the body of oil which floats on the water under deck I1 and pass up through nipples 2I and through the dehydrator elements I9 wherein any water, which may be intermingled with the oil, is removed. The oil level rises until it passes over the weir I4 whence it runs'down through passage C.

While passing through channel C the oil is mixed with the oil issuing from the pipe I45, and this mixture passes between the body of water at the bottom of the channel and the partition 1 into the precipitation compartment D where it moves slowly up through the screens 25. The screens assist any water particles which may be in the oil to coalesce into larger droplets which eventually drip from the screen and merge with the body of water at the bottom of the compartment.

The water level in this compartment is maintained constant by the withdrawal of water through the automatic draw-off mechanism as it accumulates.

In both compartments A and D, the tempera tures are regulated to about 140 degrees Fahren bait to secure the best action, both in breaking up the oil and in precipitating the water.

Since the weir I4 i higher than the weir 30, there will be a constant head of oil tending to cause the oil to move through channel C and compartment D over weir 38 into channel E, where it passes under partition 31 and into the filtration compartment F. The weir 391s higher than the level of the filter outlet fittings 41, 49 so that the filters 5| and their outlets will be submerged and, consequently, there will be ample pressure available to force the oil through the filtering surfaces and into the trough 45 which collects the filtered oil into down pipe 43 through which it passe in a quiescent manner to avoid aeration, into compartment G. The circulating pum will withdraw the treated oil from this compartment and pass it through the lubricating circuit.

It is obvious that various-changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lubricant conditioner, the combination of a flow line for said lubricant, a compartment containing wash fluid of higher specific gravity than said lubricant, an oil separating device comprising an inverted container having a flat top wall and a downturned rim, a plurality of small, diffusion orifice in said top wall for forming droplets of lubricant, submerged in said wash fluid, said flow line being disposed to open into said container from below so that a body of lubricant will collect in said container adjacent said orifices, means for limiting the rate of flow of lubricant to the container to at least the rate of flow of lubricant from said container, and means for levelling said container.

2. In a lubricant conditioning apparatus, the combination of a lubricant washing compartment, a moisture precipitating compartment, a lubricant supply line connected with both compartments the flow to said precipitation and washing compartments in the ratio of about four to one.

4. In a lubricant conditioner, the combination of a wash compartment having a washed lubricant collecting section and a dehydration compartment, means for connecting said collecting section with said dehydrating compartment, a dehydrating device comprising water absorbent material associated with said connecting means to receive and dehydrate the lubricant passing from said collecting section and to discharge it into said dehydration compartment.

5. In a lubricant conditioner comprising a water washing and dehydrating section and a water precipitation compartment, a passage for washed lubricant connecting said section and compartment, a flow line for said lubricant including means for directing part of said lubricant into said section and thence into said passage and the remainder directly into said passage, said precipitation compartment having a large cross-sectional area, and precipitation promotin means comprising heating means and precipitation screens disposed in said compartment.

6. In a lubricant conditioner comprising a casing having a plurality of compartments, including compartments containing water, removable covers closing said casing, said compartments being open topped and inter-communicating within said casing and covers, an exhaust fan for withdrawing vapors from said casing and openings in said casing above said compartments for admitting atmospheric air.

7. In a lubricant conditioner, the combination of a flow line for said lubricant, a compartment containing wash fluid of higher specific gravity than said lubricant, an oil separating device comprising an inverted container having a fiat top wall and a downturned rim, a plurality of small diffusion orifices in said top Wall, submerged in said wash fluid, said now line being disposed to open into said container from below, means for levelling said container comprising yieldable means tending to lift said container, and adjustable length support means counteracting said yieldable means at at least three points.

8. In a lubricant conditioner, the combination of a flow line for lubricant, a, compartment containing wash fluid, means in said compartment adapted to receive lubricant from said flow line, to divide said lubricant into small particles and to discharge said particles into said Wash fluid, said compartment comprising a lubricant collecting section and dehydrating means connected to receive said washed lubricant from said collecting section, and a compartment for receiving oil discharged from said dehydrating means, said dehydrating means comprising a body of highly Water absorbent difiberized cellulose.

9. In a lubricant conditioner, the combination of a flow line for lubricant, a compartment containing wash fluid, means in said compartment adapted to receive lubricant from said flow line, to divide said lubricant into small particles and to discharge said particles into said wash fluid, said compartment comprising a lubricant collecting section and dehydrating means connected to receive said washed lubricant from said collecting section, and a compartment for receiving oil discharged from said dehydrating means, said dehydrating means comprising a densely packed body of highly water absorbent defiberized cellulose mixed with supporting and binding fibers.

10. In a lubricant conditioning apparatus, the combination of a lubricant washing compartment, a moisture precipitating compartment, a lubricant supply line connected with both compartments, means for proportioning the flow of lubricant into streams flowing one to each of said respective compartments, and means for combining both streams in advance of the precipitation compartment.

FRANK B. HARVUOT. 

